Sunday, November 20, 2005

Thoughts and Observations

Random thoughts and observations....

It's becoming increasingly difficult for me to tolerate the Republican position on certain issues. For example, just the other day, Dick Cheney said that people who criticize the war on Iraq are "reprehensible" and unpatriotic. Bush agreed with him. But today, Bush said "People should feel comfortable about expressing their opinions about Iraq." Well, which is it? Are war opponents awful people who damage America, or are they contributing to a national dialogue about the wisdom of our foreign policy? Or have we entered an era of "You can have any opinion you want, as long as it's mine"? (1984, anyone?)

In other Republican nonsense, Republican representative Jean Schmidt (who won her seat by calling a war veteran unpatriotic, by the way) recently smeared Rep. John Murtha, a war hawk who recently criticized the war, by saying:

"A few minutes ago I received a call from Colonel Danny Bop, Ohio Representative from the 88th district in the House of Representatives. He asked me to send Congress a message: Stay the course. He also asked me to send Congressman Murtha a message, that cowards cut and run, Marines never do."

As it turns out, Rep. Murtha is a veteran who earned a Bronze Star and two Purple Hearts in Vietnam. As you probably guessed, Rep. Schmidt was never in the military. She did, however, offer this "apology":

"Mr. Speaker, my remarks were not directed at any member of the House and I did not intend to suggest that they applied to any member. Most especially the distinguished gentleman from Pennsylvania. I therefore ask for unanimous consent that my words be withdrawn."

Apology? More like boldfaced lie.

OK, enough political-speak. Well, maybe one more. Remember how just a couple months ago, the entire administration refused to talk about the leak of Valerie Plame? How the standard line was "I won't comment on an ongoing investigation"? Notice how the entire administration now is falling all over themselves to deny that they leaked to Bob Woodward. Everyone, that is, except Dick Cheney. The silence is deafening, methinks.

Now I'm really done with the politics. Random gripe: It drives me nuts when people get into an elevator, push the floor button, and immediately push "Door Close." Come on, people. Are you really that important that you can't wait 3 seconds? Are you really that selfish and arrogant that you would actively deny other people the chance to get on before the door closed? After all, I waited for you, the least you could do is be patient enough to wait for others.

Oh, and i'm about thisclose to opposing Alito's nomination for the Supreme Court.